{United States President, Barack Obama, left Kenya on Sunday afternoon for Ethiopia after completing a three-day visit to Kenya.}
In Ethiopia, Obama will on Tuesday July 28, pay an official visit to the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
President Obama will be the first U.S. President to ever visit the African Union.
Upon arriving to the AU Headquarters, President Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with the African Union Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Commissioners.
President Obama is also due to deliver a speech to the continent from the Nelson Mandela Hall at the AU Conference Centre, in Addis Ababa.
“This is an historic visit to the African Union. And it will be my great pleasure to welcome President Barack Obama to the AU,” said the AU Commission Chairperson on the eve of the visit, adding that, “it is also another concrete step to broaden and deepen the relationship between the AU and the US.”
During the visit, Dr Nkosazana will take the opportunity to present Africa’s priority areas as articulated in the Agenda 2063 framework document and the 10-year implementation plan, aimed at achieving Africa’s vision for prosperity, integration and peace.
Pledging his support to strengthen Africa-US relations President Obama had told AU the Commission when they met on 29 June 2013, in South Africa:
“We stand ready and eager to work with the African Union for the best engagement of the United States with Africa. If there is a strong African Union, any help that is provided by the US becomes more effective than us doing things on our own.”
The visit will offer the opportunity for both Dr. Nkosazana and President Obama to further the discussions held in June 2013 in South Africa, and during the U.S.-Africa Summit in August 2014 in Washington DC.
Among the important issues will be skills revolution to provide the youth with employment opportunities; industrialization and infrastructiural development and agro-processing.
In addition, expected to feature in both the bilateral and the speeches are issues around, but not limited to, education, youth and women’s empowerment, trade, investment, and peace and security, particularly the fight against terrorism and extremism.
The AU Commission will also be engaging and discussing with a delegation of Senators and Congressmen travelling with the U.S. President.
Previous visits of President Barack Obama to Africa include: Egypt in June 2009, Ghana in July 2009, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania in 2013 and Kenya in 2015.
Leaving Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto saw off President Obama at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where he departed from shortly after 4.00 p.m.
President Obama arrived in Kenya on Friday afternoon for a historic visit, which was well-received by Kenyans from all corners of the nation.
While in the country, President Obama co-hosted the Sixth Global Entrepreneurship Summit with President Kenyatta.
He also held bilateral talks with President Kenyatta, the Deputy President and Cabinet Secretaries at State House, Nairobi.
Upon arrival at State House on Saturday, the Kenya military gave the US leader a 21 gun salute after which he inspected a guard of honour.
On Saturday night, President Kenyatta hosted President Obama to a State Dinner at State House.
Earlier today, President Obama gave a lecture at the Safaricom Arena Kasarani that was graced by President Kenyatta and DP Ruto. He later gave another speech at Kenyatta University.
President Obama’s visit has opened a new chapter in Kenya-US relations with several bilateral agreements signed between the two countries.
During his visit, the US President also had the chance to touch base with his Kenyan heritage.
{{Source: Chimpreports}}
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